🎓 JARL NEWS 2026 Winter (Issue 1069)
Pages 43-47 Complete Edition

FEATURE 2: Supporting Student Ham Activities!
Introducing School Amateur Radio Stations Nationwide

[Introduction]
Many people entered the ham radio world through school amateur radio clubs. Currently, many schools have active clubs, and recently there's been an increase in reviving old clubs with their original callsigns. Here we introduce 10 schools (junior/senior high schools, technical colleges, and universities).

Student Ham Activities and Networking:
- "National High School Amateur Radio Federation" connects high school clubs
- "University Amateur Radio Clubs Joint On-Air Month" promotes inter-university exchange
- JARL supports through contest categories and membership fee subsidies

HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (JA8YBY)
Location: Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Reopened August 2025 with 7 male members
- Monthly mobile operations and "BBQSO" (BBQ + QSO) events
- Philosophy: Enjoying the "inconvenient but lovely world" requiring active thinking
- Plans festival demo operations next year
- Welcomes students from across Hokkaido

SAPPORO RYUKOKU HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS CLUB (JR8YQG)
Location: Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Opened January 2021, featured in local newspapers
- 10 male members, permanent rooftop antenna installation
- Focus: Engineering and IT education alongside ham radio
- Active in contests to develop practical skills
- Unique for a regular high school to emphasize amateur radio

AKITA PREFECTURAL YOKOTE SEIRYO ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL (JA7YBL)
Location: Yokote, Akita
- Founded 2004 as prefecture's first integrated junior-senior high school
- 8 members (5 male, 3 female)
- Specializes in ARDF (Amateur Radio Direction Finding) competitions
- Featured on local TV program about ARDF activities
- 2025 Achievements: 1st place in National High School ARDF, 2nd in All Japan ARDF, 3rd at World Championships in Lithuania

UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (JA1ZLO/JA1YWX)
Location: Tokyo (Komaba & Hongo)
- 60 years since founding, 22 members (20 male, 2 female)
- Stations in Meguro and Bunkyo wards
- Activities: 5-10 contests/year, mobile operations, electronic workshops
- Develops and distributes custom equipment (Morse keyboards, radios)
- Organizes annual "University Amateur Radio Clubs Joint On-Air Month"
- Promotes inter-university exchange and provides opportunities for new members

UNIVERSITY OF ELECTRO-COMMUNICATIONS CLUB (JA1ZGP)
Location: Chofu, Tokyo
- Established 1968, large membership of 62 (50 male, 12 female)
- Goal: Winning JARL contests
- Most members obtain 3rd class license after joining, then challenge 1st class
- Active in FCC license exams
- Hosted 2025 "Kanto University Clubs Joint Meeting" with 140+ participants from 16 universities

KANAGAWA PREFECTURAL KAWASAKI TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL (JQ1ZJW)
Location: Kawasaki, Kanagawa
- 5 male members focusing on recruitment and outreach
- Recent achievements: Kanagawa Cultural Festival Chairman's Award, Runner-up in FOX Hunting competition, Winner in 430MHz High School Contest
- 2025 activities: FOX Hunting, training courses (4th & 3rd class), contests, ARDF competitions, school festival participation

FUKUI KOSEN WIRELESS RESEARCH CLUB (JA9YDB)
Location: Sabae, Fukui
- Revived November 2016 with historical callsign
- 24 members (14 male, 10 female)
- Weekly operations: HF (SSB/CW/FT8), VHF/UHF (FM/VoIP)
- All grades have Morse-capable students
- Uses 21MHz Morse and VoIP for international contacts
- 8 consecutive victories in 7MHz division of National High School Contest (2025)

NOTRE DAME JOGAKUIN SCHOOL AMATEUR RADIO CLUB (JL3ZNS)
Location: Kyoto
- Founded March 2022, nicknamed "Iris"
- All 19 female members hold 4th class licenses
- 2021: Successfully contacted ISS astronauts via ARISS School Contact
- Current focus: Increasing licensed operators and activity days
- Participated in Osaka-Kansai EXPO special station (JA3XPO) operations
- Despite being all-girls school, members show strong curiosity and active engagement

NARA IKUEI JUNIOR & SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (JA3YTF)
Location: Nara
- 57-year history since 1968, 41 members (32 male, 9 female)
- Philosophy: "Proving that junior/senior high students can achieve anything"
- Beyond ham radio: e-sports experience at cultural festival, stage video production and livestreaming
- Ham activities: National High School Contest participation, staffing at KANHAM and Kansai Ham Symposium
- Participates in Tokyo Ham Fair as part of National High School Federation

KYUSHU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATURAL SCIENCE CLUB (JA6YLP)
Location: Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
- Revived 2018 from dormant status, 36 members (30 male, 6 female)
- Divided into 5 groups: Radio, Astronomy, Insects, Robotics, PC
- All 1st-year students obtain 3rd class license
- Pileup practice sessions and advanced license challenges
- Publishes club magazine at West Japan Ham Fair
- Memorable events: Tent blown away during ALL JA Contest, web media interviews, DX contest mountain operations

EXPERIENCE OPERATION DAY REPORT
~First QSOs Bring Smiles~

On October 18-19, 2025, "Experience Operation Day" (hosted by CQ ham radio, supported by JARL & JARD) and JOTA2025 (Jamboree-On-The-Air by Boy Scouts of Japan) were held nationwide. Below are selected reports (in random order).

JA5YEN - Ozu Amateur Radio Club
27th Science Experience Festival in Ozu City. 11 participants from kindergarten seniors to junior high students. Distributed JARD training course information.

JS1YOR - Abiko Amateur Radio Club
Disaster drill at community center. PR'd amateur radio's role in emergencies to local residents. Active participation from drill attendees.

JN1ZLK - Boy Scouts Tsukuba Troop 1
72 participants from 1st graders to adults. Many said "So fun!" and "Want to get licensed!" Surprising contacts with North/South America and Oceania.

JJ1YVV - Hachioji Amateur Radio Club
Official event at children's science museum. Pre-practice session before actual operation. Certificate presentation received applause.

JA8YAA - Otaru Amateur Radio Club
Public operation at Otaru General Museum targeting visitors. Elementary students showed interest in radios. Regular operations on 1st, 3rd, 5th Saturdays.

JH1YMC - Yokohama Midori Club
Green Ward Festival: 30 participants aged 3-88. Heartwarming to see small children earnestly speaking and elderly sharing favorite drinks.

JH2YSS - Boy Scouts Aichi Federation
Nervous but enjoyable first contacts. Promised scouts to obtain licenses and say "Scout Jamboree!" next year.

JE7ZCT - Yonezawa Amateur Radio Club
Radio classroom teaching basics before operation. Visitors from afar said "Can't experience this locally." Junior high students want "advanced licenses for more fun."

JL3ZCZ - Boy Scouts Kita-Osaka
36 junior high and older scouts participated. Last year's participants returned as operators. Growing interest in ham radio among scouts.

JJ2YYA - Boy Scouts Okazaki Troop 10
Joint JOTA-JOTI with Troop 2. Scout who got 4th class license in September enjoyed first QSO. 15 participants, 7 licensed operators.